advocacy
Founders Shouldn't Have to Choose Between Their Business and Their Wellbeing
87.7% of US entrepreneurs struggle with at least one mental health issue - and most can't afford or can't find support. We're working to change that. Join us.
What We're Fighting For
Protecting the programs founders rely on. The SBA's entrepreneurial development programs served roughly 644,000 small business owners in FY2024 through Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, SCORE mentoring, and veterans outreach. In 2025, the White House proposed cutting those programs by $167 million - more than 50% - and eliminating 15 of 16 programs entirely, including Women's Business Centers and SCORE. Congress ultimately rejected those cuts: the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 funded entrepreneurial development at $330 million, a $13 million increase over FY2025. But the threat isn't over. The SBA's workforce has been reduced by more than 50%, the SBIR and STTR innovation programs lapsed for six months before reauthorization, and the agency's overall budget still took a 33% cut. These programs have been lifelines for small businesses, and they remain under pressure year after year.
Affordable mental health care for the self-employed. For many founders, leaving a traditional employer means losing health insurance altogether. Self-employed workers are uninsured at nearly double the rate of other working adults - as of 2022, roughly 2.9 million self-employed workers lacked health coverage entirely. Without employer-sponsored coverage, the self-employed and their teams are often left uninsured or underinsured, making mental health care feel like a luxury rather than a basic need. We advocate for expanded marketplace subsidies, wellness and mental health cost parity, and association health plan reforms that closes the gap between self-employed and traditionally employed Americans.
Wellbeing as economic strategy, not an afterthought. The pursuit of happiness and wellness aren't just personal concerns - they drive social and economic outcomes for entire communities. We champion the social enterprises redefining how wellness works, not just for a privileged few, but for everyone. Access to quality mental health resources, real community support, and healthy lifestyle choices should not depend on your employer, revenue, or your zip code. We are determined to accelerate the organizations making serious strides toward a healthier, happier society - starting with the founders building it.
Why This Fight Matters
67%
"67% of entrepreneurs report not knowing where to seek professional mental health support" (Link).
Mental health resources are often viewed as a luxury or as inaccessible.
72%
72% of entrepreneurs say cost is the #1 barrier to mental health care.
In the USA, we have financialized the housing and health care sectors, hurting the working class.
2x
"Entrepreneurs are 2x more likely to suffer from suicidal thoughts" (Link).
This is a clear reflection of the lack of support for this community.
99%
99% of businesses in the United States are classified as small businesses. These small businesses make up almost half of all private sector employment and account for 9 out of every 10 new jobs. (Link)
The people creating most of America's jobs have the least access to wellness and mental health support.
That's the gap we exist to close.
Take Action
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Every purchase is a vote for the kind of economy you want to live in.
When you buy from Amazon, your dollar leaves your community almost instantly. It doesn't pay a neighbor's wage, sponsor a local little league team, or help a founder down the street keep her doors open. Economic research consistently shows that money spent with local, independent businesses recirculates in the community at roughly twice the rate of money spent with national chains — and online giants return even less.
At Mindful Founders, we exist to help entrepreneurs thrive. And we've seen what the one-click economy costs them: independent makers, booksellers, and retailers competing against a platform with pricing power no small business can match. Convenience is real — but so is the price our communities pay for it.
Deleting your Amazon account is more than canceling a subscription. It's a mindful decision to slow down, buy with intention, and put your dollars where your values are. Find the local bookstore. Order directly from the maker's website. Ask a founder in your community what they sell.
Your dollar is more powerful than you think. Spend it like it matters.
Take the pledge: Delete your account. Discover your local economy.
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“Low prices” have a hidden cost — and our communities are the ones paying it.
When a dollar is spent at a locally owned business, a far greater share of it stays right where you live: in local wages, local services, local suppliers, and local causes. When that same dollar is spent at a big-box chain, most of it leaves town. Multiply that by every grocery run and household purchase, and the difference is a community that builds wealth versus one that exports it.
We've all watched it happen: a big-box store arrives, and over time the hardware store, the pharmacy, and the family grocer disappear. With them go the entrepreneurs — the risk-takers, employers, and community leaders that Mindful Founders exists to support. Entrepreneurship can't thrive in a town where every dollar flows to a distant headquarters.
Choosing not to shop at Walmart isn't about sacrifice. It's about redirecting your spending toward the people building something in your own community — the farmer at the Saturday market, the founder behind the counter, the local shop that knows your name. Yes, it sometimes costs a little more. What you get back is a stronger local economy, more local jobs, and a community where founders can succeed.
Shift one shopping trip this month. Watch what your community does with it.
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Tell Congress that founder mental health and small business support are priorities. Find your officials using the button below, then copy our template and make it your own.
FIND YOUR OFFICIALS (link: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials)
Example email:
Subject: Support Small Business Owners' Mental Health and the SBA
Dear [Representative/Senator Name],
I'm a constituent from [City, State], and I'm writing to ask you to support America's smallest businesses — including the people who run them. Entrepreneurs experience dramatically higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than the general population, yet most cite cost as the top barrier to care.
I urge you to (1) protect full funding and staffing for the Small Business Administration, (2) support policies that make mental health care affordable for self-employed people and microbusinesses, and (3) treat founder wellbeing as part of small business policy.
Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in this country. Supporting the people behind them is an economic issue as much as a health issue.
Sincerely, [Your Name], [City, State]
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Most founders suffering in silence think they're the only ones. One share can change that.
87.7% of US entrepreneurs struggle with at least one mental health issue. If you're a founder who's struggling — you are far from alone. Mindful Founders Inc. is working to change this.
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Real stories move policymakers and remind struggling founders they're not alone. With your permission, we feature selected stories - anonymously if you prefer - in our advocacy work. Send an email to us through the contact section on our homepage, or feel free to reach out through Instagram or LinkedIn.
Sharing about suicidal thoughts? Please also reach out for support - call or text 988.
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For founders, investors, and ecosystem partners: pledge to treat wellness and mental health as a legitimate business and policy priority - for yourself and your team. Signers are listed, with permission, as part of our growing coalition.
Pledge and course coming soon. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified.
Go Deeper
Volunteer with us - Help with research, events, or peer support. [Tell us your skills →]
Partner with us - Accelerators, lenders, coworking spaces, and chambers: bring founder wellbeing programming to your community. [Start a conversation →]
Host a conversation - We'll provide a free discussion guide for talking about mental health in your founder community. Guide coming soon, sign up for our free newsletter to be notified.
Donate - Your gift funds coaching, education, and direct financial assistance for early-stage founders. [Donate →]